Hundreds of Palestinians under the age of 50 were forced to perform the dawn prayer on the streets of the old city in occupied Jerusalem today after being prevented from entering al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli occupation forces.

A tight blockade has been in place since Monday night, forcing many to pray the evening prayers on the roads near al-Aqsa gates, and preventing Palestinian youth from entering the mosque to thwart a planned invasion by Zionist group the ‘Temple Mount Mob.’

In recent days the ‘Temple Mount Mob’ have been using a variety of media, including facebook and fliers, rallying the Israeli public to break into al-Aqsa Mosque for what they call “Independence Day,” when they intend to perform Talmudic rituals and raise Israeli flags in the mosque.

Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage said that Zionist police forces closed all but three of the gates leading to the al-Aqsa complex, leaving only Hatta, al-Silsila and al-Majles gates open.

This morning Israeli troops, police officers and rapid deployment forces converged on these gates, aiding at least 60 settlers to storm the Al Aqsa compound, while tens of Palestinian students are surrounded and prevented by the police from entering the Mosque.

Al-Aqsa Foundation called on Palestinians to intensify and maintain their presence in al-Aqsa Mosque, saying they have an obligation to protect al-Aqsa.